Quarter-finals announced for National School Cup competitions

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MARCH 09: Merchiston's Alex Callaway runs forward with the ball during the Scottish Rugby Boys Schools Cup Finals at BT Murrayfield, on March 09, 2022, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)

Across the Cup, Shield, Plate and Bowl competitions, four quarter finals will play out for U18 and U16 age groups over the next week, with winners progressing to a semi-final.

In the U18 and U16 Cup quarter-finalists are comprised of the top six teams from the National 1 Conference and the winners in the National 2 West and National 2 East Conferences.

Boys U18 National Schools Cup

Finishing top of the Conference on an unbeaten run, George Watsons have claimed a home quarter-final against last season’s champions, Merchiston Castle, who finished up four points behind the hosts in the Conference.

National 2 West winners Hutcheson’s Grammar have been drawn against Strathallan, who finished in fifth place in the National 1 Conference. Hutcheson’s won all four of their Conference fixtures, finishing just one point ahead of St Aloysius’ College in the table.

Stewart’s Melville will face Dollar academy in their quarter-final. In their previous meeting in the Conference, Stewart’s Melville secured a 36-12 win over Dollar, but could the Clackmannanshire school take the all-important quarter-final win?

Finally, Loretto have been drawn against the Edinburgh Academy.

The Edinburgh side claimed four victories from six in the Conference to qualify for this year’s quart-finals, whilst Loretto enjoyed four wins from four in the East Conference for their qualifying spot.

QF1: Stewart’s Melville College v Dollar Academy
QF2: Loretto School v The Edinburgh Academy
QF3: Hutcheson’s Grammar School v Strathallan School
QF4: George Watson’s College v Merchiston Castle

Boys U16 National Schools Cup

Marr College topped the National 2 (West) Conference with homerun of five wins to secure a coveted quart-final spot. They have been drawn against Merchiston Castle School who finished in fourth place in National 1 based on points difference.

In quarter-final two, second placed Strathallan will face Fettes College. These two sides haven’t played each other since September, where Strathallan claimed a 7-36 win.

High School of Dundee topped the National 2 (East) table with four wins which saw them score 137 match points. They have been drawn against Dollar Academy who finished fifth in the National 1 Conference.

Finally, National 1 leaders Stewart’s Melville College will face third place George Watson’s College, who claimed the title last season.

QF1: Marr College v Merchiston Castle School
QF2: Strathallan School v Fettes College
QF3: High School of Dundee v Dollar Academy
QF4: Stewart’s Melville College v George Watson’s College

There are also quarter-finals in U18 and U16 Shield, Plate and Bowl competitions. The following quarter-finals have been drawn.

U18 National Shield

QF1: St Aloysius’ College v Fettes College
QF2: North Berwick High School v Robert Gordon’s College
QF3: The High School of Glasgow v Glenalmond College
QF4: Queen Victoria School v Kelvinside Academy

U16 National Shield

QF1: Kelvinside Academy v The Edinburgh Academy
QF2: Howe of Fife/Bell Baxter High School v Robert Gordon’s College
QF3: George Heriot’s School v The Glasgow Academy
QF4: North Berwick High School v The High School of Glasgow

U18 National Plate

QF1: Strathendrick/Balfron High School v High School of Dundee
QF2: The Glasgow Academy v George Heriot’s School
QF3: Marr College v Linlithgow Academy
QF4: Trinity Academy v St Columba’s (Kilmacolm)

U16 National Plate

QF1: Glenalmond College v Queen Victoria School
QF2: Loretto School v Ross High School
QF3: St Columba’s (Kilmacolm) v Lomond & Helensburgh
QF4: Hutcheson’s Grammar School v Linlithgow Academy

U18 National Bowl

QF1: Preston Lodge High School v Lenzie Academy
QF2: Dalkeith v Lomond & Helensburgh
QF3: Lasswade High School v Morrison’s Academy
QF4: Knox/Haddington v Howe of Fife/Bell Baxter High School

U16 National Bowl

QF1: Lasswade High School v St Leonards Madras Blues
QF2: Lenzie Academy v Berwick
QF3: Knox/Haddington v Dalkeith
QF4: Trinity Academy v Morrison’s Academy